Tube cleaning apparatus



Feb. 10, 1942. P. T. KEEBLER- E1- Al.

' TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS 2 sheets-,sheet 1 Filed Deo. 16,A 1940lNVENTOR Feb. `10, 1942. P, T KEEBLER ETAL 2,272,640

TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 16, 1940 fu 7INVENTOR www iff MW Patented Feb.. 1G, 1942 TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS PaulT; Keebler endl-Virgil HL. Baker, Springfield, Ohio, assignors toElliott Company, Pittsburgh; Paf, acorporation of Pennsylvania- 9YClaims.

This 'invention' pertains to motory driven cut; ter and cleaner headssuitable for cleaningi interior deposits in` tubes, suchl as heavy coke;More particularly, thel invention relatesn to an` improved. cutter headhaving roughing and polishing elementsfin operativev combination;

Ity has been f an object of ourinvention to provide a new and improvedcutter uni-t'offa type that-Will be particularly suitable for removingcoke and other extraneousI material Where. the taper of the out surfaceis signi m` cant.

Anotherv object has' been to provide: a' cutter unit having improvedcharacteristicsAw ol ilexibility. v

A furtherrobject has'beenz to devise acleaner head combination having atleast tWo types f of" cleaneror cutter elements in operativecombination. such that theelernents of one etyp'ecan best`effect,desiredfoperative` results Without und'esirable modification bythe other'type` etelements.

These and many other objectsof ourinventionwill appearto those. skilledin :theart yfrom the description, the drawings, and r theY appendedclaims Inthe. drawings:

Figure4 l is a lside elevation. partly in section; showing one form ofour invention;

Figure 2 is a side sectional elevationshowingY :t6

cutter elements and pins of Figure l;

Figure Sisan end 4sectional View in elevation taken along the lineIII-III of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an exploded sidesectional elevation showing a` modiedarrangement ol cutter ele ments andpins;

Figurev 5 is aside elevation-,showingindetall thespider constructionot'Figure l;-

Figure 6 is a plan View otthefront -endf (leftl of Figure 5) of thespider of Figure-'5, and Fig ure 7 is a similar View of the rear end(right. of Figure 5);

Figure 8 is a side in elevation, and Figure@ is a plan view of a frontplate detail of -therernbodiment of Figure .1;

Figure 10 is an endplan View in elevation, partially in section, ofa.,detail^ot arear plate'` of ,the embodiment of Figure 1;. and.

Figure 11 is a vertical section. taken alongtha line XI-XI of Figure l0.

Heretofore in'; present-dav commercial con-. structions, it has-beencustomary tomcunt af. number. of cutter or cleaner.. elements. on the-`same journal pin arrangement. We haver-found that this c0nstruction.hascertain disadvan-vr theerearareeof'substantially cylindrical form'.-

ability is needed betweenA lthettvo types of cutter;I

. that'theiroperating-aXes'farev at anY angle to fthe:A

tageous. results, particularly `as applied' :to tubing? having. heavy`coke'- encrustations thereinl'z In L. suchra construction, theforwardcutter `elements i' are generally; tapered Aand theotherrelements Yof We have determined'. *that the: preferable 'type ofoperation 'is'. for "the forward' or conical cut-'- tersY to Aadvance ata vsuitableinclinationv with respect tov thev axis of thevunit (to'effect se'lf'- feed) and'at la--suitable inclination into thecokeencrustation without settingKAV upy an undesired inclination andpositioning of the rear.v or huish-.- ingfcutters. To effect a uniformrjobthe"nishing cutters should preferably move somewhat" parallel tothexaxis of'th'e 'bodyfbeinga'cleaned and thus7 be capable or somewhatparallel posi'-v tioning Wit-h respect to they rotating.K cutter fhead2' or" spindle* To effectsuch `a result,V itrwilltbev` apparent thata-suitableA fdexibility` or adapte elements. and' that this cannot be'accomplished'.- by the utilization ora tsingle coinmonisupporting".journal pin for by other yar-rangementsfamiliar: to those skilled in theart.

Particularly as applied to" a 'self-'feeding :i type offcutterhead,. seefor lrexample; the arrangement shownin the KeeblerfPatent'2,1385009,itis'de= sirable lto operate'one set of cutters; the` leading;l cone;or` roughing'cutters; in s, such' amanneri operating vor rotating4axisrof th'e'heads. During? the' operation of theV unit, the cleaningcutters should: I'be I preferablyrmounted in'such aomannerx thatthey-can movertoa position in Whiclrtheir axesware'pai-allel'to the`axis `ofthe head aswellr as at an angle-thereto;

In aprererredrform ofV ourfnvention olvililigl ure= l,- We havefshown aspiderlfhavingf a fronthead portion ll, threeY or'anylsuitable'numberofy longitudinally; andY 'backvvardly 'extending -integral, arm`portions .i 2; and a. back' orf rear head" portion I3.Afrontiplateelemen-tzl isprovlded'i with outwardlyfextending ears' lfwhich; as? shovvndnFigures`v l; 8; and9; t-between:theA integral arms lE andabut against fan 'inner side of the front head portionfl; platel'is removably positioned and 'each Yof 'itsears .l'is provided 'with a:bearing hole "orf slot r l 'l 'forV ree ceivingand Journalingacutter'pin: Thefslcts or; recesses ll 'mayb'e circular or radiallyelongated', asfshoum'in/'Figures andl''or'the aboi-"edn'erri1v tionedKeebler patent.

Front :cutter 'or journal' pins IB 'arefremovablyl mountedatone lend ineach of the slots Il fto" longitudinally extend' Ybacktvardlytherefrom'andf support forward, cone-shaped cutter elements or heads 20.Cutter teeth portions 2| of the elements 2U are of integral form and arespaced by annularly-extending grooves 22. 'Ihe rear portion of eachforward cutter element is provided with a longitudinally-extending boreor opening therein that is radially offset from an opening or bore inthe front portion thereof and is suitable for receiving a second or rearcutter pin 25. The rear cutter pin is preferably at least as strong orof as great a diameter as the forward cutter pin I8 and is preferably ofgreater diameter.

The rear cutter or journal pins 25 are at one end journaledsubstantially loosely within and extend from the portions 23 of thecutter elements 2G. Suitable clearance may be allowed between the endsof the pins I8 and 25 to provide a suitable pivot action between theforward ends of the pins 25 and the female wall portions 23 of theforward cutters 20; both ends of these female portions or bores arepreferably chamfered. In this manner, the cutters 20 are, in effect,supported on two cutter pins. A pair of straight, cylindrical,finishing, or rear cutter elements 3l] are operably mounted beyond andadjacent as well as in substantial abutment with the forward cutterelement 20 upon an extending portion of each second or rear cutter pin25. In this manner, the forward pin I8 is held in operative position bythe pin 25 and the latter takes up thrust upon the forward pin I8,transferring it through its length to a rear head lock plate or member32.

As shown particularly in Figures l, 2, and 4, the pin 25 is preferablyprovided at its rear end with an annular thrust fiange 26 and a somewhatbeveled stud end portion 27 that is loosely and somewhat pivotallyjournaled within slotted portions 33 of the rear head lock plate 32.Small openings 34 are provided in the top of these slotted journalportions 33; openings 35 are also provided in body portions of the plate32 for passage of fluids.

The entire arrangement is demountable in such a manner that the wearingparts can be readily replaced. As shown particularly in Figures 1, 10,and 11, the rear plate 32 has a series of undercut offset portions 36for receiving the arms I2 of the spider. The plate 32 is removablymounted on the frame or spider I a connector 4l] abuts rear plate 32 andis threaded within a female portion 4I of the spider I0 to secure therear plate in position. In a mounted position, a center annulus 31 inthe rear plate 32 fits over iiange I4 of the spider IIJ, also offsetportions 35 t over portions I3 of the spider. erably such that they willbe tightened during the rotation of the cutter head.

In view of the above description, it will be apparent that thearrangement can be readily dismounted by unscrewing the connector 4U,lifting the rear head plate 32 away from the rear portions of the spiderI0, and then pulling the pins 25 and finally the pins IS backwardly outof their operative positions.

The above arrangement, as will be apparent, makes possible a closelyassociated mounting of the two types of cutter elements while permittingthem to operate in the most efficient manner to effect their cooperativeresults. That is, the front cutter elements 20 can pivot to a suitablefeeding and rough-cutting relationship with the inside of the pipe andthe coke to be removed, while the finishing cutter elements areindependently and adjustably mounted or pivoted with respect to theelements 20 to best complete the cutting and cleaning operation withoutsetting up offsetting and undesired results in combination. 'I'hecutters 3D are, in effect, pivoted on the cutters 20; we providesuitable play or clearance between cutters to permit their axialmovement on the pins.

By providing a removable front plate, movable journal or cutter pins,and a removable rear plate, the parts subjected to the most wear can bereadily and inexpensively replaced. The front cutter pins are operablyheld in position and strengthened against thrust by the rear cutter pins25 which are in substantial axial alignment and are at least preferablyin a substantial endto-end relationship. Suitable clearance is providedto permit desired relative movement between pins. The unit will readilyadapt itself to any type of heavily coked tube surface. By eliminating asingle pin for cutters of different types, we also eliminate bendingfatigue and thereby increase the life of the unit. There is no crampingof the operation of the cutters of one type by the operation of thecutters of the other type, in that each has an axially-adjustable orpivotal operating relationship with respect to the other.

It will also be noted that the front cutter element 20, in effect,constitutes a continuation of the cutter pins, in that both of them areoperably supported therein. They, in turn, operably and adjustablysupport the front cutter element. The front cutter element, in effect,pivotally supports the rear cutter pin 25 upon which the rear,cylindrical, or straight cutter elements 3U are operably mounted.

In Figure 4, we have shown a modified form of our invention in which aforward cutting element 20 is combined as a single integral element withthe forward pin I8'. We prefer the arrangement shown in Figure 1 in thatthe wearing parts can be replaced with minimum expense.

It will appear that the core axis of the cutter 20', in effect,constitutes an integral portion of the pin I8' such that this pin ismounted in an endwise relationship with respect to the pin 25, arelationship that corresponds to the relationship between the pins I8and 25 of the embodiment of Figure 2.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, although we have shownforms of our invention to illustrate its principles and novel features,that the inventive concept is not limited thereto. That is, theparticular cutter construction of the spindles, etc., can be suitablymodified and other arrangements of cutters may be employed to utilizeour new and improved form of fiexible mounting between cutter elementtypes. Also, various arrangements may be employed to utilize our ideasof support and journal construction for the cutter pins.

We claim:

l. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame provided withbearing portions, a cutter having a longitudinal operating axis, acutter pin operably mounting said cutter adjacent one end thereof in onebearing portion of the support frame, said cutter having alongitudinally-extending bore portion open to an opposite end thereof,the bearing portion of the support frame adjacent the last-mentioned endof said cutter having an outwardly-extending slot, a second cutter pinhaving a portion of substantially uniform diameter therealong operablyand loosely mounted within said bore portion and extending outwardlytherefrom to operably mount the opposite end of said cutter within theslotted bearing portion, so that the longitudinal operating axis of saidcutter will move in an angular relation to a longitudinal axis of thecleaner head.

2. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame withspaced-apart pin-mounting portions, a pair of cutter pins operablymounted in said pin-mounting portions of the support frame and extendinglongitudinally therefrom towards each other in a substantiallyend-to-end relationship, and a cutter operably mounting the endto-endportions of said cutter pins with respect to each other in such a mannerthat one of said pins will move into endwise abutment with the other ofsaid pins under thrust conditions, the other of said*pins having athrust shoulder portion.

3. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, a pair ofcutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, acutter pin operably mounting one of said cutters adjacent an end thereofon the support frame, a second cutter pin operably extending from saidfirst-mentioned cutter adjacent an opposite end thereof and operablymounting said cutter on the support frame, the second cutter of saidpair being operably mounted on said second cutter pin between saidfirst-mentioned cutter and the support frame, at least one of saidcutter pins and said first-mentioned cutter being loosely mounted toprovide angular movement between the axes of said cutters during a tubecleaning operation, so that the longitudinal axis of one of said cutterswill move in an angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the otherof said cutters.

4. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, a pair ofcutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, acutter 'pin operably mounting one of said cutters adjacent an endthereof in the support frame, a second cutter pin extending into anopposite end of said first-mentioned cutter and operably mounting theother cutter of said pair between said first-mentioned cutter and thesupport frame, said cutters and cutter pins being mounted in such amanner as to allow one of said cutters to move in an angular relation tothe axes of the other of said cutters during a rotation of said cleanerhead.

5. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame provided withbearing portions, a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having alongitudinal operating axis, cutter pins extending from opposite endportions of one of said cutters and mounting said cutter in the bearingportions of said support frame, at least one of said bearing portionshaving an outwardly-extending bearing slot, said bearing portions havingportions for limiting the extent of outward movement of said cutterpins, the other cutter of said pair being operably mounted on one ofsaid cutter pins between said rst-mentioned cutter and the supportframe, said first-mentioned cutter and said cutter pins having portionsso mounted that one of said cutters is free to move angularly withrespect to the other of said cutters during a tube cleaning operation insuch a manner that the longitudinal axis of one of said cutters can movein an angular relation to the axis of the other of said cutters.

6. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, at least a pairof cutters, each of said cutters having a longitudinal operating axis, apair of cutter pins extending from opposite ends of one of said cuttersand mounting said cutter on the support frame, one of said cutter pinsbeing loosely associated with said rst-mentioned cutter and having theother of said cutters operably mounted thereon so that the longitudinalaxis of one of said cutters will move in an angular relation to the axisof the other of said cutters.

7. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame provided withbearing portions, a pair of cutters, each of said cutters having alongitudinal operating axis, cutter pins operably mounting one of saidcutters adjacent opposite ends thereof in the bearing portions of thesupport frame, one of said cutter pins being loosely mounted betweensaid first-mentioned cutter and one of the bearing portions, the otherof said pair of cutters being operably mounted on said loosely mountedcutter pin in such a manner that said second-mentioned cutter will befree to change the relation of its longitudinal axis with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the first-mentioned cutter to provide angularmovement between the longitudinal axes of said cutters.

8. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame, alongitudinally-extending cutter having connected bore portions open toopposite longitudinal ends thereof, the bore portion at one end of saidcutter having a smaller diameter than the bore portion at the other endthereof, a cutter pin operably and turnably mounted within the boreportion of smaller diameter and extending therefrom to cooperate withthe support frame, a second cutter pin of greater diameter operably andturnably mounted in the bore portion of greater diameter and extendingtherefrom to cooperate with the support frame, a second cutter operablymounted on said pin of greater diameter, one of said cutter pins havinga portion providing a mounted relationship with said first-mentionedcutter such as to allow relative angular movement of axes of said twocutters.

9. In a rotary tube cleaner head having a support frame withspaced-apart pin-mounting portions, a cutter pin operably mounted in oneof said pin-mounting portions of the support frame and extendinglongitudinally therefrom, a cutter operably positioned on said cutterpin between said pin-mounting portions of the support frame, said cutterhaving an integral pin extending from an end thereof and operablymounted in the other of said pin-mounting portions of the support frame,said cutter element operably mounting an extending end portion of saidfirst-mentioned cutter pin in a substantially endwise relationship withrespect to a portion integral with said second-mentioned pin in such amanner that said first-mentioned pin will move into endwise abutmentwith the integral portion of the otherv of said pins under thrustconditions, said firstmentioned pin having a thrust shoulder portion.

PAUL T. KEEBLER. VIRGIL H. BAKER.

